Lately my mind had been on hoodies.  I wear them a lot – I practically live in them on the weekends.  Perfect thing to spend my time on, right?  Plus, it passes the Rhinebeck test.  I’d love to walk around the fairgrounds in a newly-knitted hoodie.

I started a Charleston Tea but in worsted instead of sport.  After 20ish rows it’s clear – I don’t like it.

The cables are pretty but the designer is right – they should be in a thinner yarn.

Ok, back to the drawing board.  Here are a few hoodies I’ve had my eye on for this Fall.

The first 6:

• Sundog by Melissa Schaschwary – ok, not a hoodie but I could add one.  Although that cowl neck is awfully cute…
• Nutkin by Melissa Schaschwary – also not a hoodie but it could easily get one on it.
• Briquette by Alicia Plummer – it’s hard to see but there’s an asymmetrical line of rev st st on the body.  I’ve learned that asymmetrical doesn’t look good on me so I’d make it symmetrical.
• Fickle Heart by Justyna Lorkowska – the cables and lace make this one a nice feminine option.
• Miranda by Josee Paquin – I like how she’s designed the kangaroo pocket to work right in with the cables.  Plus I already own the pattern.
• See You There by Joji Locatelli – the central texture and back are pretty and the sleeves have a bit of detail too.

And the second 6:

• Gytha by Jennifer L. Appleby – I love the mostly-solid but with splashes of color in the hood, arms and bottom of the bodice.  Maybe my gateway stranded project?
• Luminen by tikru – look at the cool way the pocket is incorporated into the cabling.
• Mariah by Jodi Green – yep, it’s back on my list again.
• Olive Branch Yoga Hoodie by Kirsten Hipsky – and not just because I’ve been working my way into some yoga.  Look at that back cable detail.
• Piscataqua by Alison Green – the pic looks pretty simple but it’s another one with a back cable V detail.
• Basic Chic Hoodie by Bonne Marie Burns – Bonne Marie has several hoodie patterns but this one stood out to me because it’s mostly st st but with some lacy details.

Thoughts on the designs:

• Top down raglan – I like the fit, the try on as-you-go, the knitting style (once you get done with the yoke it feels like you motor through) and it fits my body shape well.  If the design isn’t top down raglan I’ll likely mod it so it is.
• Worsted weight – they all are made with worsted weight.  A hoodie is a good amount of knitting and it’s supposed to be warm.
• Most have cables or lace – something to keep the knitting interesting – but they aren’t overly fussy.  I like that.
• Pullover or cardi – I’m undecided about this one.  They both have their advantages.  I’m still terrified about putting a zipper into my knitting and I don’t really like the look or function of buttons on a hoodie.  Hmm – maybe magnetic snaps?

What do you all think?  What did I miss?  What would you pick?  I’m a bit earlier than normal for my typical fall planning but I might actually get something done this way.

I’ll catch you on the purl side…

I quickly decided that I wanted to knit Briquette out of Miss Babs Yowza in Scarlet Letter.  Pretty color and the hoodie is something I’ll get a lot of wear out of on the weekends.

But then I looked at my sweater yarn stash – I actually have several choices.  Going with my “be more deliberate” approach that I’m taking on this year I wanted to make sure I wasn’t making a rash decision.  I don’t want to frog this just because it wasn’t a good choice.

I came up with a few more options…

Briquette in GGH Bali Brown with a small stripe (or two) on the sleeve with the blue.  I like the sportier look for the weekend.

Pier 60 out of Dream in Color Jilly.  The pattern is designed for worsted so it would be a big change from the original.  I think the stitch pattern could work really nicely in this colorway though and the neckline makes it fit the lighter weight feeling of the yarn.  This could be inspired or irrational.

Salted in Jilly as well.  I like that someone else made one in Tosh Merino Light (a very similar yarn) but it’s in a more solid colorway.  How will the openwork look at the top?  I don’t need you to see it well but I want to make sure it doesn’t detract.  And for the body I could do it in reverse stockinette stitch (knitting it inside out so I do knits in the round instead of purls).

I’m really not sure which way I want to go at this point.  One thing all these options have is that I’ll finish it right before spring starts so I’ll get a lot of wear out of it.

What do you think?  Any other options that you see here?  What are you joining in with for the KAL?

I’ll catch you on the purl side…